President Paul Biya should thoroughly investigate the recent killing of journalist Anye Nde Nsoh, hold the killers accountable and provide a safe atmosphere for free speech and the practice of journalism in Cameroon
The Norbert Zongo Cell for Investigative Journalism in West Africa (CENOZO) has condemned the killings of journalists in Cameroon and called on the country’s President, Paul Biya to urgently halt the trend.
Just a few days back, one of the country’s top journalists, Anye Nde Nsoh, was murdered by unknown gunmen near a bar in the Northwest Region’s capital of Bamenda.
The killing has also been condemned by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) in a statement released in New York on May 8, 2023.
Before his murder, Mr. Nsoh was the regional manager of the Advocate Newspaper, one of the most influential media outfits in the country.
But in a statement released on Monday in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, CENOZO President David Dembele called the murder of Mr. Nsoh “a heinous crime” and urged Mr. Biya to bring the perpetrators to justice.
He said the organisation is shocked to learn of the barbaric murder of the famous journalist and also condemned the country’s continuing reign of terror.
“As we stand in solidarity with all regional and international organisations defending press freedom and freedom of expression, we demand that the Cameroonian government provide full explanations for what happened and that those responsible for the heinous crime be made to bear the full force of the law,” said CENOZO’s President, David Dembele.
“We extend our condolences and prayers to the family of late Mr. Nsoh and the Cameroonian journalism community. We will always stand by you and speak out strongly when the need arises. Journalism is not a crime, and no journalist should be killed for carrying out their legitimate duties.”
Part of the statement read, “We call for an urgent investigation must be carried out to fish out the killers of Citizen Nsoh, who was a prominent figure in the 7th cohort of the AFF Cameroon, led by ADISI Cameroon and partners.
“The security of lives and property is the most important duty of any government, and Mr. Biya and Cameroon’s national security apparatus must recognise this and take all necessary steps to ensure that Cameroonians are safe and their properties are protected.”
Mr. Nsoh’s murder comes months after journalist Martinez Zogo was tortured and murdered in January, and another colleague, Jean-Jacques Ola Bebe, was shot dead in February.
According to CENOZO, the situation in Cameroon has once again demonstrated the difficult environment in which African journalists, particularly Cameroonians, work.
